Hello, yellow: A desire to downsize inspired Ann Nicholson to help a neglected North Carolina bungalow on Sunset Drive live up to its glowing name. See how a vivid imagination and pails of yellow paint made this house shine.
Sunny Front Door
"I'm always in search of the ugly duckling," says designer Ann Nicholson, referring to the day that she and her husband, Charles, stopped short in front of what is now their very bright, very lively Raleigh, N.C., home. "There it was: A 1910 Craftsman-style bungalow with zero curb appeal, a partially gutted interior, and a 'For Sale by Owner' sign pushed into an overgrown lawn. Immediately, I pulled out a pen to jot notes on a wrinkled paper napkin." Nine months later, with help from builder Chris Jokisch, the fully renovated bungalow with its roomy addition off the back, brand-new carriage-house–style garage, garden pavilion, and lattice-enclosed courtyard proved a glowing success.
Deliberately rigid "jardin style" plantings lend structure and cheerful opulence to the outside. The same is true of the canvas draperies on the porch. The lattice-lined courtyard, accessible from the kitchen, is playfully enhanced with topiaries, garden statuary, and benches.
Bright Living Room
Walls had been removed and windows had been added to brighten the abode. A sunny saffron palette that Ann borrowed from the home's address on Sunset Drive had been introduced as the home's "neutral." Radiant and invigorating, yellow shines in every room of the 2,600-square-foot house, as well as on its exterior, for accent.
For a bold, graphic feel, add black and white furniture with strong silhouettes to a room already vivid with color. Antiques provide warmth. To minimize clutter and hide electronics, Ann designed cupboards that mimic paneling to flank the fireplace, which was relocated to this room from another area in the house.
Designer Ann Nicholson
"The look is intentionally happy and playful," says Ann. "We were downsizing from a large house, and I wanted that transition to be fun, to feel as if we were joyfully walking into a playhouse -- or a Pop Art painting."
Airy Dining Room
To create a small house with big rooms, a wall was removed in the kitchen and the ceiling was raised. French doors and windows were added to let in a lot more light. And a new addition, hidden from the street, supplied square footage.
The kitchen opens into the airy addition. Beams from the Nicholson's farm accent the ceiling above an improvised kitchen island, fashioned from a marble-top buffet. Yellow lampshades and dark furnishings are lightened by modern dining pieces and white leather wing chairs, well loved by the couple's three beagles, Andy, Opie, and Floyd. French doors lead to the courtyard.
